Florida Department of Juvenile Justice

Office of Residential Services

Use of Psychotropic Medication in DJJ

Residential Commitment Programs

REVIEW DRAFT ONLY NOT INTENDED FOR RELEASE

Statewide Analysis Report

2012 2014

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Department of Juvenile Justice | Statewide Psychotropic Medication Analysis Report | - 1
 Overview:

Beginning in April 2012, the Department of Juvenile Justice initiated a series of surveys of residential
commitment programs regarding the use of psychotropic drugs in these facilities. The purpose of these
surveys was to assess the use of these drugs and determine any trends, variations, or changes in status
over time. The surveys considered the youths previous history (prior to placement in a DJJ residential
program) regarding prescriptions for these drugs and whether they were prescribed and administered
while the youth was in the residential program.

The data below represents an overview of the results of five surveys conducted over the past two years.
This data was extracted from snapshot surveys taken for the following dates: April 1, 2012, January 1,
2013, October 1, 2013, January 1, 2014, and October 1, 2014.

Data Analysis:

A review of the various data items surveyed shows that the use of psychotropic drugs in residential
commitment programs has remained stable, with little change evident, over the two years that the
surveys were conducted. This report provides an overview of the key items addressed in the survey and
the information provided for the various survey times.

The review of the data shows for the various survey periods approximately 70% of the youth in
residential programs are not on any psychotropic drugs. This includes the use of these drugs for the
treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as well as other psychotropic medications
for purposes other than treatment of ADHA.

Of the estimated 30% of the youth in residential programs that are on psychotropic medications,
approximately 10% of them are on these drugs for ADHA.

The surveys also examined the number of youth identified as having no previous history of psychotropic
drug treatment prior to placement in a residential program and whether these youth were prescribed
these drugs while in the residential program. Consistently the surveys showed that approximately 90%
of youth that had no history of being prescribed psychotropic drugs perspiration were not placed on
these drugs while in the program.

Below is summary of the findings of key items reported on the use of psychotropic medications in
residential commitment programs.

The percent of youth in residential programs statewide that are not on any psychotropic
medications:
4/1/12 = 68% 1/1/13 = 67.05% 10/1/13 = 69% 1/1/14 = 71% 10/1/14 69%

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 The percentage of youth in residential programs statewide on psychotropic for ADHD:
4/1/12 = 9% 1/1/13 = 11.55% 10/1/13 = 11% 1/1/14 = 10% 10/1/14 12%

The percentage of youth in residential programs statewide on other psychotropic medication

(not for treatment of ADHA) is approximately 20%, but has actually gone down a percent or two
over the past couple of years. - 4/1/12 = 22% 1/1/13 = 20.97% 10/1/13 = 19%
1/1/14 = 19% 10/1/14 19%

The percentage of youth in residential programs that were identified as having no previous
history of psychotropic treatment and remain on no psychotropic drugs during their placement
is approximately 90%.
4/1/12 = 86.8% 1/1/13 = 88.27% 10/1/13 = 91.29% 1/1/14 90.71% 10/1/14 87%

The surveys allowed for an analysis of the use of psychotropic medications by program type. As noted in
the tables below, there is some variation between the various types of programs, specifically; the
percentage of youth on psychotropic medication for non-ADHA treatment is higher in mental and sex
offender programs.

However, even with the breakdown by program types, there was relative stability in the survey data
over the two-year period concerning the percentage of youth in each category.

Percentage of Youth on Psychotropic Meds by Program Type

4/1/12 1/1/13 10/1/13 1/1/14 10/1/14

Percentage on 9.09% 8.41 6.95 8.04 10.97
ADHD
General Percentage on 14.81 14.24 11.66 11.61 11.92
Programs Other
with Mental Psychotropics
Health Percentage on 76.10 77.15 80.54 80.36 77.00
and/or No Meds
Substance
Abuse
Overlay
Services

4/1/12 1/1/13 10/1/13 1/1/14 10/1/14

Percentage on 6.02 7.72 7.99 9.17 10.67
Specialized ADHD
Mental Percentage on 45.37 49.26 45.56 42.78 41.29
Health Other
Programs Psychotropics
Percentage on 48.61 42.14 42.98 48.06 47.75
No Meds

Department of Juvenile Justice | Statewide Psychotropic Medication Analysis Report | 3

 4/1/12 1/1/13 10/1/13 1/1/14 10/1/14
Percentage on 9.09 11.58 8.82 7.06 9.31
Specialized ADHD
Substance Percentage on 17.93 20.95 17.28 17.56 19.29
Abuse Other
Programs Psychotropics
Percentage on 72.98 67.29 73.37 74.38 70.95
No Meds

4/1/12 1/1/13 10/1/13 1/1/14 10/1/14

Percentage on 14.90 14.90 10.00 13.93 17.06
Specialized ADHD
Sex Offender Percentage on 33.65 30.77 28.57 21.89 21.18
Programs Other
Psychotropics
Percentage on 51.44 53.37 60.95 64.18 61.76
No Meds

4/1/12 1/1/13 10/1/13 1/1/14 10/1/14

Percentage on 3.81 8.33 13.16 7.81 9.17
Specialized ADHD
Developmentally Percentage on 37.14 15.28 14.47 26.56 18.35
Disabled Other
Programs Psychotropics
Percentage on 59.05 75.00 72.37 65.63 72.48
No Meds

Data An
Conclusion:

Beginning in April 2012, the Department of Juvenile Justice initiated a survey of the residential
commitment programs regarding the use of psychotropic medications in the facilities. The initial
gathering of information tracking of psychotropic medications in residential facilities allowed for the
establishment of a baseline and the same information was collected and compiled over the next two
years. It is evident from the data submitted through these surveys over a two year period, that there is
relative stability in the use of psychotropic medications in residential programs.

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